April 29, 2016
San Jose, Calif. - The San José State softball team committed two errors, which led to six unearned runs, and put eight hitters on without having to swing the bat in an 11-5 loss to the #20 Fresno State Bulldogs on Friday afternoon.
Behind a second-inning RBI double from Emma Entzminger (1-for-3, RBI) and a third-inning three-run homer off the bat of Madison Aurin (1-for-4, R, 3 RBI, HR), the Spartans (22-22, 11-5 MW) led 4-3 heading into the top of the fifth inning.
Colette Riggs, who'd entered in the fourth inning and retired the last two hitters, got the first batter she faced in the fifth. Fresno State then got a single and a walk followed by a fly out to make it two on with two outs.
Riggs induced a comebacker to end the inning, but her throw to Aurin at first was high. It drew her off the bag and in Aurin's attempt to tag out the runner; the ball was knocked out of her glove allowing the runner to score from second. A walk to the next batter loaded the bases followed by a hit batter, which scored the second unearned run of the inning and spelled the end of the day for Riggs.
Emily Rogers entered the circle with the bases loaded and on the first pitch she threw, hit the batter, which scored another unearned run. Fresno State then got a two-RBI double to make the score 8-4.
Alyssa Martinez (1-for-3, R, RBI, HR) cracked her third home run of the year leading off the bottom of the fifth to cut the advantage to 8-5, but the Spartans would get no closer.
Fresno State (35-9-1, 16-0 MW) tacked on another unearned run in the sixth and added two more runs in the seventh for the final margin of 11-5.
Among the team's eight hits, the only Spartan to have a multi-hit day was Jessica Madrid, who went 3-for-4 with a run.
SJSU used three pitchers in the game. Starter Katelyn Linford went 3.1 innings allowing five hits, three runs and a walk. Riggs (6-4) took the loss, pitching 1.1 innings. She gave up two hits, five unearned runs, two walks and hit a batter. Rogers tossed the last 2.1 innings. She surrendered three hits, three runs, one unearned, walked two and hit two.
Jill Compton (21-4) pitched a complete game for the Bulldogs to earn the win.
The teams play game two of the three game series on Saturday. First pitch is scheduled for 12:00 p.m. at SJSU Field.
Fresno State 11, San Jose State 5 (Apr 29, 2016 at San Jose, Calif.)
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Fresno State........ 010 251 2 - 11 10 0 (35-9-1, 16-0 MW)
San Jose State...... 013 010 0 - 5 8 2 (22-22, 11-5 MW)
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Pitchers: Fresno State - COMPTON, Jill and GUMZ, Paige. San Jose State - Linford, Katelyn; RIGGS, Colette(4); ROGERS, Emily(5) and Avila, Alyssa.
Win-COMPTON, Jill(21-4) Loss-RIGGS, Colette(6-4) T-2:11 A-257
HR FS - WILLMON, Lindsey (10).